Wheeled gun carriage



.Fell 12, 1935. N. E. METHLIN WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE 11 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 50, 1952 n L l l I l il I I l l, w M Ill Il Il- Il I l N@ ,1- d... f hun 1 I Il. D. f.. .J -N W .H I. f ,M NQ .fx l|\"\ Q.. NQ i n Q b v v C Eg?. l

Feb. 12, 1935. N. E METHUN 1,990,950

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June so, 1932 i 11 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. l2, N, E. METHLlN WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1952 wm /l /I /1 Fell l2,1935. N, E. METHLIN v 1,990,950

l WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June '30, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 mab/mm MMM www@ Feb. 12, N E. METHUN WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE 1l Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed June 30, 1932 Feb. l2, 1935. N E METHUN 1,990,950

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June 30, 1932 1l Sheets-Sheet 8 e?, Eg 25.

wim/muil Fell 12, 1935 N. E. METHLIN WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June 50, 1932 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June 30, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Feb'. 12, 1935. N. E. METHLINv 1,990,950

` WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE Filed June 50, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 H9. 26. was.

- Patented Feb. l2, 1935 y .-,UNITED STATES ;rArENT. 4OFFICE f www LGE Nicolas-Emilien Methln,`i-Paris', France, asslgnor .to Schneider-8; 'Cie', Parisgvlrance,V acompany oi' France.

' `.'Illfhe present invention relates to 'a wheeled gun carriage with`split trail and'one or more auxiliary trails as well as detachable wheels or is characterized by a system of trail legs so adapted that the said trail legs may both be brought simultaneously, either by individual or 'coupled action, alternatively into a position withthe head raised in which the system 'of the' said' trail legs is arranged'fo'r travelling or for normal ring on wheels, or into a position with the head lowered in which the oscillating gun and cradle, during the pivoting of the top carriage; can pass above the system of trail legs for'I ring at aerial objectives.

In order to be able to eiect thev changefover of the trail legs from the position with the head raised into the position with the head llowered according to the invention.' a construction may be provided in which the trail legs are acted upon individually, or both trail legs'- are acted' 'upon together, the latter being adapted to turn orf slide separately or conjointly' in the pintle'bearing or carriage body when the carriage comprisesan oscillating axle. When the carriage'does not comprise an oscillating axle, the legs of the split trail being in this case pivoted'to a crosslpiece adapted to oscillate in the pintle bearing rigidly supported by the axle, the change-over from the 'f raised position to the lowered position may also be effected by pivoting the system of trail legs vabout the pivot joining the cross-piece to the carl 'riage body, or a cross-piecein two parts may be employed which parts are adapted to occupy'two positions, one in which they raise the heads of the trail legs pivoted to their free endsandthe other in which they'lower them. Finally, 'par ticularly in the case'in which the carriage'is 'not provided with an oscillating axle, the changeover from the raised' position to the loweredposition may be'effected by 'a displacement o1' the longitudinal joint of the system of trail legs inl the pintle bearing, or there may be provided for the longitudinal joint of the system of trail legs a movable bearing adapted to be brought alternatively into an upper position or into a lower i position, for example by means of a. screw and nut mechanism. These' various constructional forms which are merely cited by way of example are l represented in the accompanying drawings.'

A1Figures 1 and 2 show respectively inside. eleva- ,the main trail.

'"Fi'gure 5 vis a fragmentary plan view showing '.the auxiliary trail connected to the main trail. I0

' Figure' is a fragmentary elevation corresponding to Figure 5 and showing the hooks of the main trail which are adapted to be engaged by the auxiliary trail.

' 'Figure 7 is a plan view in section taken substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 3.

l Figure 8 is an end elevation of the trail leg head and the intermediate piece of the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

',.Ql v ligures 9 and 9a are fragmentary elevations d manner of connecting a trail f" a fragmentary elevation of a modf Figure 10b is {,iication of the device shown in Figures 10 and 0a. Figurell is an elevation portion of a gun mount showing still another embo'dime'nt of -the invention. E illne 12 is a plan view corresponding to Figure h .`Figure'13'is a side elevation corresponding to Figur'e l1, but including a showing of the trail leg foot. Figure 14 is an end view part in section of the trail cross'piece. Figures'15 and 16 are n-'Aplan view, respectively, device for coupling the pintle bearing.

Figure 17 is an elevation of a portion of a gun ount showing still another embodiment of the invention part in section of a' an end elevation and a part in section, of the detachable wheels to the Figures 18, 19 and 20 are end elevations and a v fp lan view, all partly in section, of the embodimentof Figure 17, Figure 18 showing the trail legs lin lowered position and Figure 20 showing Ethem in raised position.

Fi g 1 1res 21 and 22 are fragmentary elevation as! lrssrsetivs1w-varily in Section. 55

of still another modification of the present invention.

Figures 23 and 24 are side elevation and plan views of a portion of another gun mount embodying another form of the invention.

Figure 25 is a sectional end elevation taken su stantially on line25'25 of Figure-24.' V 1 Figures26 and .27..are partial .elevation and plan views of another embodiment of the invention. ai Figure 28 is an end elevation in section through the trail legs of the embodiment of Figure :26.

Figure 29 is a part elevationcorresponding-tto. Figure 26 but showing the auxiliary atrail-.in L raised position.

'I'he equipment itself may be of any kn0Wn-con-. struction. It may comprise for examplehan` os-- cillating mass, gun 1 adapted to recoil on a cradle 2, the latter being adapted to oscillate by means of trunnions 3 in a top carriage a-a1 for elevation, the said top carriage in turn being adapted to pivot in a carriage body ora pintle bearing b, a longitudinal joint c2 permitting a transverse oscillation of the set of 'wheels cl--lc-c1 relatively to an intermediate piece c3carried bythe pintle bearing b, due to -an attachment b1 by means whereof the entire set of wheels may be detached L' from the pintle bearing by horizontal-'slidingl The bottom carriage comprises two trail legs d, d, which for the purpose of being spreadv outand brought together are movable about vpivots e, e

which in the known equipments are formed on f I in two parts f1 and 'f2 engaging the 'pivot b2.

or carried by the pintle bearing b.

According to the invention, the pivots -e are' each carried on an intermediate piece 'f which is adapted to turn'about a pivot b2 which is slightly inclined to the horizontal, thereby permitting each of the trail legs to take up two positions which are symmetrical relatively to the'said pivot.

One of these positions is shown in 'full'lines in "position'to the lowered position, a simple attach- ,ing device'may be provided. Each of 'the :interj'jmediatepieces, instead of being constructed as in Figure 3, while the other shown in chain line corresponds to the position for firing on wheels and for travelling.

The pivot b2, as shown in Figure 3, will `be given an inclination such that its geometrical axis passes in the immediate vicinity of the footy Aof the trail leg. With this constructional form,'it is necessary to be able to Vturn the foot ofthetrail leg which is intended to receive a sliding trail spade and to provide for this 'purpose a pivot 'g1 between this trail leg foot and the trail leg body d, `the geometrical axis of the Kpivot g1 beingsituated in the extension of thegeometrical axis vof b2. Under these conditions, the trail legs d'can be turned about their pivot 'b2joir1ing' them to the carriage body without this operation involving any displacement of the carriage body or gf the foot of the trail leg. i

In the example shown, the equipmentcomprises a detachable auxiliary trail h, inone or more parts, which is adapted to'be AIixecl to the pintle bearing b for example by means of pins i, and at the same time to be connected tothe trail legs d when the latter are in their loweredposition. For this purpose, the auxiliary trailmay comprise a hook h1,'as shown in-elevation'in Figf ures 1 and 4.-, and in part plan in Figure 5. When the legs of the split trail are in their desired spread-out position for battery position for Yiring against aerial objectives, the vsaid hook 4engages corresponding hooks d1 carried by the heads of the said trail legs d. With the equipment which has just been described, the legs ciV of the split trail may be brought together into the-position with'raisedheadfortravelling as'shown'in chain aiionly limited by the wheels.

.'ber. such as a cotter d". l.trail leg into the top position, the member b will be withdrawn,`the intermediate piece will be lines at I in Figure 2. Of course, for travelling, the auxiliary trail will have to be removed and transported separately; In case of surprise, ring may be carried out with the trail legs brought together in the positions I and anchored to the ground.

.By-x leaving the-jtrail legs 'in 'the :raised iposition .lniFigure-j, rlng .may be :effected with the trail legs spread apart in a position of spread Such a position II is Shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2. Finally,

Yinorderto'convert the equipment with a view to ,firing against aerial objectives, the heads of the trail legs are brought into the lower position by rotation andthe trail legs may then be spread further apart (position III).

In order t convert the equipment denitely for vfiring against aerial objectives, an auxiliary trail h willbeplaced in position and the set of wheels will then be removed. As shown in chain lines in Figure 1, the oscillating gun and cradle in all [positions of elevation can pass above the trails.

the pivoting oi the gun and cradle in the pintle `,bearing 'b 'andfthe 'recoil of 'the gun on the cradle being possible throughout the whole field of Iire of In the example just described, the hooking of eachintermediate piece on the pivot b2 integral Vwith the pintle bearing b may be effected in any appropriate manner.

One 4constructiona'l form is shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8.

As'will be seen,the intermediate pieceis made The lower part f1 carries the pivot e around which the trail leg body d is adapted to turn. The trail leg head d4 isadapted to engage a lug 'f3 'of the intermediate 'piece in two positions 'of angular displacement, for example by means of a' pin d5.

` In orderto bringthe'trail legs from lthe raised example shown in Figures `3, 7 and 8, in box shape, will be made in the 'form of a slide block 'having in cross-section the same profile 'as that "ofthehead shown in Figure' 3 .and whichwill 'engage a guide of corresponding profile `formed 'on the pintle bearing b and replacing the pivot 'b2 in Figure 3. This modification is shown in 'Figures 9 and '9a.

In these figures. f 'denotes the intermediate j piece which makes a sliding fit on a guide b3 in the form Vof a projection on the pintle bearing b.

In Figure 9 the trail leg occupies 'the bottom position'in which it is locked'by a locking mem- In order to bring the disengagedjfrom the guide b3 and the 'trail leg will be `turned 'through 180. It can then be tted again on the guide b3 when it will occupy a`pgsition suitable for travelling or ring on wheels. This position is shown in Figure 9a.

AIn the embodiment of Figures '10 and 10a. for each of the heads the pintle bearing carries a guide b3, the section of which is clearly visible `in Figure 10a and on which the corresponding :trail leg 'head is engaged. 'I'he iixingof'the trail j legs in the bottom position is shown in full lines 'in Figure l0. By 'withdrawing the pin d, 'the trail leg may be raised fromithe lowered position into'the position for travelling or ring on wheels, vthetrail leg then being xed by meansof -pin d engaging a second -holesituate`dat a suitable geene@ f g level; oni. the .pintlef bearing: as: indicatedV in chain I ,lines in'l'igure 10.*;I11Fig`ure`10d, only onecf the'interme'diate pieces ',hasqbeenshown., The iig'ure' shows, however, the. Vguides `for the?. inter- -mediate piecesiof the two legs' of the; split trail.

' In the example shown in Figure. 10b., the guide 'provided lfor each of thetrailelegn headsorify the fpintle :bearing fbr is: inthe form of. a .rack b4 -for a pinion ora; worin 019 .journalled inthe trail leg i head and adapted. Vto bei manipulated l by' a hand wheel orratchet". f

. -Inboth embodiments of Figures 1b; ioeeid 10b,V

they centers of' curvature fof .the arcuate'. guides b3 or. racks b4V arejsubstantiallyi coincidentalzwith the Points f engagement of the trail leg feet y with meg-roundat f y; A y

InVV the examplexshownfin vliguresifllV to. 16, `the legs d ofthe split trail'are each-pivoted on a pin e. carried' by al cross-piece VVeljintergrali.with a pivot lcmovable rin a bearing formedinthepintle The .trail leg feet are'joinedto thetrail legs d by. pivotsg1 permittingthe trail .leg ieetto be righted, Whether? the trailr leg4 is f in. the, top` position or the`b0ttom` position.V According to the inventiomby rotatingthe cross-piece e roundthe pivot 1c, these arrangementspermitthe trail legs to be .brought rom thetopl position, shown in chain lines,.t'o thebottom position shown in full linesin Figurel. Inlthe'travelling position, and during the'above-mentionedv` rotation, VVthe trail legs arebrought togetheraccording to arrangementl in Figure12. Y

The .trail -legs may be placedin the top posi-y tion orin the bottom position/equallyv in eachof the positions II andlIII'infFi'gure 12. However,

for the purpose ofjthis change which `.is effected by rotation. of' thefcros's-piece; it 'isi essential'to lbring theY trail legs-together'in the .positionl It should be noted that during this change-over from the top position into the bottom position, the

i Aright hand trailelegrpas'sesto the left yand vice versa.y 1' vI The vinhumaine ef thepivet knee-:the Vresult ef preserving theuverticality of the pintle bearing b. inV each of. these two.` positions.

v The pivots gli are so arranged thatftheirl axes bisectI thev two positions pf'the trail'- leg, `thus maintaining theffeet g offthe trail' legs-substane rtially vertical. Y

Thel system Vo trail legs havingbeen lowered,

thelegsmay bespread apartinto the position IIL for ringv against aerial. objectives, .the Vaux'- iliaryk trail h having been putainposition `as in the example shown in Figures, 1 to 3.` The set Vof wheelscan then-be reinovedvbyV disengaging the bolts m (Figure V16) which permits the brackets c projecting from. the jaxlec to be `dis- Aenga'gedrin their rturn andthe set of .wheels to beV removed. In .the example'just described, the aux iliary trail his xed tothe pintle bearing bjby a pinh?, while the forkrsh'of vtheihead of trail h are xedrby a pin h4 vto bossesgd? formed on the trail leg heads d. A-.device for lockingthe trailV legs in their. vtopV position may also-beprovided by engagement between the bosses or lugs Ydrl on theV trail. legs and corresponding lugs provided' on the pintle bearing. y 1 l' f s Y Figuresl'l'to 20 vshow a modification of a similar application of'itheinvention', that is to say, infthe, casein which thesystem` oi? trail legs is pivotjed bya pivot 'ky asini the example shown ingFiguresfll tor16,1to thefpintle bearing, the carriage"not-.having` an4 oscillating;Y axle; :In thiszex- I ample, the cross-'piece e1 carrying the vertical pivoteiof'the trail; legs for' their; angular disli*pl"a;rcement,1,is made. in two. elementsv e2 and, e3

whichare hinged about' the pivot k of Ithe system of trail legs, the pivot being rigidlyv integral with the pintle .bearing b. `One of the. elements e3 is in the form Vof arforked lever and carries. the

lpivot e oione, of the trail legs, while the other element. e2 which carries the, pivot e of the. other trail leg is adapted to swing between the.v forks e?.

this two-part cross-piece is adapted to. oc-

cupy"twol.p'ositions, one of' which is 'shown in the side and end elevations of- Eigures, 17 18 and 19,.while the other is shown in the; end elevation ofFigureZO.vv

Figures 2l and 22 show' another modification which. may-be'femployed in combination'with a carriage having anY oscillating; axle.. Inthis ex'- ample, each oi the trailA legs.Vr dA is jointed both .to thertrail leg foot gby a pivot. gland/by. apivot dtoabush e6 carriedib'y/ a vertical pivotfe1 journa'lled` in, the pintlel bearing b. The pivots 'y1 and df. have the same geometrical. axis,.the trail .legs'being adaptedto be locked in the topA posi- :tion shown inchain Alines inFigure 21. by' a bolt which' at the same time engages alug elprovided on-the pivot e and a lug dl carried bythetrail leg. In Ythebottom positionthe, lug.l d servsior the attachment ofithe'auxiliarytrail h.

In the example shown'in Figures 23 to25, the pintle bearing b comprises, for each ofltheheads -of. the legs d of the split'traiL'a helicall guide b3 .which .may be vformed as a projection on vthe body of thepintle bearing hask shown in.y Figure 24 and which is engagedby the corresponding traille'g head.. In the case in which theltrail-leg body dis rigidly integral with the head engaging the guidathetrail legs are capable of. assuming exactly two positions, as indicatedin full lines and chain. lines'. respectively in Figures 23 and 24.

Whenthe trail legsoccupy the upper position at the: top of the guides 113,. they will necess a-rily betogether for the purpose of limbering up anditransport. When the trail legs occupy the 'bottom'. positionindicatedin full lines, they will necessarily' beat the-desired spread for the bat*- -tery positionfof theA equipment, with wheels'removed, forY firingllag'ainst aerial objectives, or with aviewto iiringV on*` the oscillating axle for ordinary field firing; Oi course, 'it isv possible in addition' to provide yheads of split trail legs guided ,-lielically onthe pintle bearing'b, the trail leg Y lure 23,V in which the Ytrail body kwill be hooked kunderneath the cradle by .a linkr 2. In the bottom position, the trail h may be fastened to the trail legs d, thelatter carrying for this purpose, like the trail h, lugs (diy and h3, respectively) through which are passed pins. Y

Figures 26 to 29 show a constructional form ap#- pliedin` combination with a carriage not provid'- ed` with oscillating axle, that is to say, a car,`

riage in which the` legs of the. splitl trail are pivotedto-a. cross-piece adaptfed to oscillate by means of a; longitudinal pivot mthepintle bear.- ing;-this1example, the change-over from the bbttomiposition of the trail. legl head tov theftop position is obtained by a vertical displacementof the longitudinal pivot ofiftheA cross-piece. "pivoti inthe form showniiniFigures 26:,to 29uisf shown inthe topvposition. t

l1o p p cross-piece elto which the legs d of thesplit trail are hinged around verticalL hinge :pins i e ismovable Vin a lbearing Kfonned by Aa half collar, havfj ing `its arms guided on guidesB ,fomed-` on the i f :515,

displaced .vertically bylthe displacement of its bearingiwhich is adaptedto slideon or ina guide-,vpn

,carried bythe `pintle bearing." l

in thebottom position," While in Figure 29 theyare Asl shown inithe iiguresthe pivotfk ofuthe pintle bearing. WThe verticalfdisplacenientof the Y VThe samefsystexn,ofverticalgrnovernezitmaybe` -employed with :an oscillating-,axialiucwhich case :feet -andiits associated rail leg; .whereby said; feet the pivots ewill;,becarriedidirectlyvlby the half n above f or Y, jatV aerial. objectives rat .'anygazil k -2gtIna1gun'-carriaget pintle. N

cillatig gunandcradle pivotally-mounted `on said f 1;,In afgu'n carriage', af'pintle `bearing; an osl- `cillating igun, and cradle ,pivotally :rnountedon l said bearing transportation means` detachably connected; to said i bearing","a,` splitntrailjfvor said t carriagevsecured .Lt

carriage securedV to said'tbearingmeans for raising, lowering and spreading'thedegs ofpsaid trail` i y relative to; saidsfbeaiirieaan emiliana-tran, and

`relativento said bearing,..said means beingsolcon-` structed` and arrangedivthat' 'saidtrailgmay:be I

quicklyy moved,` `Without affecting ort'interfeing with the position; and operation 1 Aof the joscillat- Ving gun :and cradle,` `from anormaLraisediposi- 4tion for iiring with said transportation-means rinplace to a lovveredhemplaced"` position jvvithptlie n transportation nieansgremove'd, Ian"aiuriliaryfltrail; V and nieansqfor` securing f:saidtaiufiiliiajry trailfto y `a. portion of the gunicairiagefthatsisjllxecldur., ing L firing -vvhenfsaid split trail is in lowered A eingiplaced vposition,3 'saidt split andlauxiliaryi trails being so locatedwhen i in `emplaced;ivdsitiongtlfiat the oscillating gun and cradlelmay-.qpivottheres bearing, transportationhineans detachably con? nected to saidV bearing,a splitztrailtfor, saidJcarwith Lsaidtra'nsportation ,meansfintplaceto a lows ered `emplaced position-With @the transportation j means removed, an auxiliarytrailgand meanswfor securingl said auxiliary `trail to 1; a. aportion ofslthe Vguncari'iage that is fixed during ring when said split trailris in lowered" errnplaced.. position; :said

Y c split. and auxiliary l trails being `so -locatedivi/henv l 7d vinemplacedipositionthat the.oscillating1 gurand objectives 'atanyazimutha cradle mayo pivot thereabove for* firing .ataerial l to a portion of` the, guncarrlia'ge that f is `fixed dur-f" ""vconnectedyto.- sai .8;luaigunilcarriage an ntleizbearing, a trail i leg ihavingfa headiadapted ,tdJoesecuredilto said l p bearing; l means fon @securingJ said f trail jleg i head i e to said bearing in bothraise'd andlowered positions and foi-L Jshiftingjfromgoue of` said positions 111,996,950 t t p carriage `secured'itc` said tbearing; and` having: a splurality i1 of legs, eachofA `said, legs "havingf a `head Y :adjacentlsaifd bearingiian'dva)rfootgadapted@ yto 1 ent i said trail;legheadsgrelativerto l said izaearing:with-` i 5 and cradieeelatme he aground, an auxiliary j Ytrail, fand `meansifo sec'uringsaid {auxiliary trail ting iiringiwhenvsaid tralle heads are inlowered position'fsaidwfsplit :and "uxiliahry trails `zbef"` ing so locatedl wheninfsaidloweredfposition that Vthez, oscillating; gunt" andccraldlefmay pivot there- Laboveforring t` ial'ob" et estat anyvazi-vmuth. l

` 4.1In`a gunj` carri e apintle-bearing; a os-` i "atlle:,fpivotallvlmountedonA `isaicl: bearing; transportation; meansqdetachably carin split trail `forsaid aid earingi and z having a f carriage l secured i lengagfethej, groundfmea J iorxraisingand, lovin-"ff 'eifinggsaid trail legwheadv i relativeyto,` saidI balr. l: ingf Without, affecting.,the,` position .of the oscillatia 1 pivotal @connectie ybeftvvfeen,iteach of'rsaim trail` may t betina'intained;

vtlfiejsarne positionilregard-- I t less gofuthe, positions of said-trailfheadsendless.`

`clzillating gun; andi.cradlefpilntally: mounted on` said bearing, transportation 41 means: fdetachably connected.:tosaidsbearing;aisplitftrailtfor said ,ng,`llowering andspreading;` he legssoftsaid" trail means foitysecuringfls' d1 xiliary; trail `tofsaid split trail :legs when he :lat sitionl; l

`JILBI `if:omiecteietosani bearing; asputitrail fffqr said A Ucarriagesecurdftosaidibearing, meansor-.ra

saidbearingiandito latter aregin-l'vvered Ina gunvcarriag Sagethefground'flansjforiraising and lowering f trail, andgmeanssforgsec d totheotnergwithout:arresting the position af-said portion" of itheggunl'earnagefthatfis ,gliaedgduiing l ing, and., cradle elative to (the '.iground,` alicl.`

idubearing, imeans` for. rais- 35.

terr arein "lowered p0'. i-

and cradle-relativeftofthe ground;janiauxiliary` f "l V1 bearing relativ/'estompefgroundiran auxiliary trail; t .l

vsaid auxiliary,..tmi1 tog@ *n l bearing, means 'ior'securing said trail leg head to said 'bearing Afor pivotalrmovement relative thereto v'about'an axis slightly'inclined-tothelhorizontal, 1 whereby said -trailv leg may -be quickly moved, without affecting the position of saidlbearing relative -to Athe groundflfrom anormal raised position for'ii-ring 'with t'l1efgun transportation means in place to faf'loweredemplaced position withfsaidtransportationfmeans removed for iii"- ing-at "aerial objectives, and ymeans 'forfmounting said trail vleg for' pivotal movement about anY axis substantially at right angles' to -sa-idrst named axis.

l0. yI-n-agunjcarriage, a Ppintle bearing, a trail leg having a headadapted tolse securedtolsaid bearing -a-nd a-ffoot 4adapted tto engagethe-ground. means fior securing said `trail leg head to 'said bearing for' pivotal *movement relative thereto about anfaxis slightly inclined tolthe yhorizontal f whereby said traillegmay be-moved from raised toA lowered position without vaffecting 'the {posi- Vtion vof Asaid bearing relative :to the ground, land means for securing said trail -leg foot to said trail leg lfor pivotalgmovement about ian' axis Asubstantially coaxial with said first namedvaxis.

`1'1, In' a gun carriage, 'a Ipintle bearing, ra trail leg Iha'vinga lhead adapted to be secured to 'said zbearing Vanda foot adapted Vtoerigage the ground, means lforsecu ring V:said trail leg -head to said bearing for pivotal j-movement' relative thereto about'an axis slightlyinclinedltoV `the fhorizontal, wherebyf'said trail T'leg may fbe moved lfrom f raised ItoFlo weredjposition without affecting `t-he position' ofsaid bea-ring relative to/the ground, means Vfor mountingsaid trail leg for Apivotal movement about 'an axis Asubstantially'` at `*right angles 'to said lfirst named '-axis, and -means forfsecuring *said-'trailleg :foot to said tra-il ,legfor pivotal movementV` about '-an Yaxis `substantially fcoaxial with said rst 4named axis. Y

12: Inra 'igun carriage, a'pintle bearing, -a trail v o ,taleg'radaptedwto b'e'-1secured to said bearing, and

means forjsecuring said trail leg "to 'said bearing infa -plurality -of'idifferent positions relative to said bearing -'including *a* pvot 'vlug @formed 4'on said" l bearing, Aan intermediate -member5engagir1g said' lugand Yjadaptedto pivot :therearound, and a Fpivotal connection Ebetween `said jfinte'rmediate member and saidj trail lLleg,ithefaxeslabout which said pivotalmovements take place being sub-Y stantially perpendicular to vone another.

13. In a gunrcarriagaa pintle bearing, a trail leg adapted tor be secured to said bearing, and means for securing saidtrail leg to said bearing in a plurality of differentpositions relative to said bearing including a pivot lug formed on said bearing, an intermediate member engaging said lug and adapted to pivot therearound, theaxis of said pivotal movement being inclined slightly from the horizontal, and apivotal connection between said intermediatemember and said trail leg having an axis Vsubstantially perpendicular' to said rstfnam'ed axis. Y y

' 14. In a gun carriage,` a pintle bearing, a trail leg adapted-to be secured to said bearing, and means for securing said trail leg to said bearing in a plurality of different positions relative to said .bearing'including a pivot lug formed on said bearing, an intermediate member engaging said lugand adapted to pivot therearound, a pivotal connection between said intermediate member YVand saidtrail leg, a ground engaging foot for said trail leg, and a pivotal connection between said foot land said leg -having van axis substantially coaxial-withithatc said pivot lug.

15. In :a gun carri-age, a pintle bearing, a trail vbearing Afincli'idi-ng -a pivot lug formed on said bearing, an yintermediate member engaging said lug and adapted to pivot therearound, the axis of saidflpivotal l'movement being inclined slightly from-thehorizontal, a pivotal connection between said 'intermediate member and said trail leg having an axis substantially perpendicular to said rst named axis, a ground engaging foot for said.trail"l'eg, and a pivotal connection between saidfootand said leg having/an axis substantially coaxial'with said iirst namedaxis. f

16. `-InJafgun carriage, a pintle bearing, a split trail 'having va'plurality of legs each adapted'to be secured to said bearing,rmeans for securing each -of said trail legs to ysaid tbearing in raised and lowered positions for noi-maland aerial ring, respectively, an auxiliary trail, hook members lforrned on the inner ends of said .trail legs, and-a cooperating hookmember carried by said auxiliary :trail and adapted to engage the hook members of said trail legs when the :latter are inilowered position.

1"7. In la gun carriage,'a`pintle bearing, asplit trail .having a plurality of legs each adapted to be .secured to :said bearing, means .for securing eachv of .said trail legs to `said 'bearing in raised` inner -ends fofsaid `trail legs, vand `a .cooperating hook 'member carried 'by said auxiliary trail and adapted 4to engage the Ahook members of said trail legs :when the elatteriare in lowered position.

-18.In.a .gun carriage, a pintlebearing, a split ltrail'f-l'iaving a plurality of legs adaptedto be secured to'said bearing,and means vfor securing said trail legs vto said bearing in raised and lowered, fpositionsifor normal Aand aerial-firing, ,respectivehr, including .a cross-,piece Vconnected to said :bearing ior pivotal movement about anaxis slightly inclined to the horizontal, and pivotal connections between said cross-piece and said trail legs having axes substantially perpendicular to saidrrst namedA axis.

19. In a gun carriage, a pintle bearing, a split trail having a plurality of legs adapted to be secured to saidbearing, and means for securing said trail legs to said bearing in raised and lowered positions for normal andaerial iiring, respectively, including a cross-piece connected to said bearing for pivotal movement about an axis slightly inclined tothe horizontal, pivotal connections between said cross-piece and said `trail legs having axes substantially perpendicular to said iirst named axis, ground engaging feet for said trail legs, and a pivotal connection between each of said feet and its associated trail leg.

20. In a gun carriage, a pintle bearing, a split trail having a plurality of legs adapted to be secured to said bearing, and means for securing said trail legs to said bearing in raised and lowered positions for normal and aerial firing, respectively, including a cross-piece connected to 25 spectivelyl,` including al crosse-piece' connected to fA bearing andsaid trail legsl whensthe attei"` aiev` in loweredpo'sition." l l A, connections .fb

Y urst named'1 axis, an auxiliary "trail,I and:lineagnsfaV 56C t Y 1,999s95Qi said `bearing f oifpiyotal movement about anaxis slightly inclined l to Athe l horizontal, pivotal' cori-` nections between said. cross-piece and saidft1:a il Vlegs having ages substantially perpendicular to] j leest@ saicl bearing. risdfand loweredlposi-l i A tions; ,fornoijnial and aerial firing, :respectively including afpain-:fof `substandally vertical. slide guides carried onnopposite sides of said, bearing, acque?? mmberlhvcgtslide Atlswks'1M1a1` tfe itf n said ltrail legs, and `a pivotal connection-between 'e'aclfiA of said feet and itsassociatedltrailelegyhayv il tantiallycoaxialY aid r "ingan subs namedaxis.- Y y 1211* a igun carriagefaA pintle. bearing,` asplt Ttrailthaving` a. pluralityof Vlegsagrlapted-359'1,beQ secured to said bearing,` and means for securing said trail legsto'said bearing :ln'raisedLatrid,10W-3'i` ered positionsm for Y normal land aerialQling,A re- !spectively, including a cross-piece pivotallytconnected ftotsaid bearing,- \pvota1"connections-b tweenk said crosse-piece l and /sad ctrailflegs; lan `g i auxiliary trail; and means forsecuringsaid `auxil-f` iary i trail Y to cboth said bearing and g, `said L trail 1 jlegswhen the latteraifeginglowered position; g A22g-Ina' gun carijiage; `a pintleberng, a split ,c

` djmsaid tijaillegs. pmtlerbearnins, a split `.F1 l daptedto be secured@k Y forr ecuring` said trail` secured to said bearing,` and meansdfor securingsaid traillegs to said bearingi infraisedvandxlow-Jl ered positions for normal and iaerialfiring;` ref;

said bearing for fpiifotal` movementaboutyam; axis slightlyinclined to the lioi'zontalypiyotalfj connections. `between l said t vcross-piece f andsaid.4 "ti traillegswhaving axes"substantially.ferpendicu-A` lato said firstk namedr aXSfgroundlengagingp feet `for lsaid trailiegs,-` a pivotalf `'connection be2-uf" tween each of said-feet and'itspassooiatedgtrail legs havingan axissubstantiallycoaxalwith saidl V"23."Inla1guncaifrialgfe, a pintle` bearing, a vsplit` w y L traily `hawinl; `a pair of legs;adaptedxtti besecured to said;5 be in to l said bearing,` and V`means 'for securingsaidwjti'ail@legs-toV ai, n trail`legs.to\said `bearing iniraisedtandfloweredfl positions for norm positions .fornrmal and 1 aerial firingaincluding/J c vaslide guide carried by saidbearingf: anfinterf-i" mediatehnember engaging saidrguide andadaptedto slide"r theiealo'ngQ a' i cross-*piece pivotallyj- `connected tosaictintimediateYmembergandt totalV etvv'een "saidL cross-niece trail legs. 1 L if "l `j 2 4; In al guricarriagefafpint :bearin u a trailvhaving alpairof legsl adaptedltolbe ured tofsaid bearing, and means Aforfsecurin saiditiaily 

